Over 7,400 vote early in Pope CountyAfter the first six days of early voting for the 2016 general election, over 7,400 Pope County residents have already cast their ballots at the Pope County Election Headquarters in Russellville. According to totals from the Pope County Clerk's Office and Election Headquarters, 7,418 voters went to the polls Monday through Saturday afternoon. The heaviest turnout was Tuesday, with 1,451 voters casting ballots. The rest of the week saw voter tot...

Dardanelle talks bond from 2011DARDANELLE — The Dardanelle City Council met in special session on Tuesday to discuss refinancing a bond. Bill Smith, water department head, said Raymond James in Little Rock recommended that the city refinance a bond from 2011 by using an investor. The bond was for construction of a collector well along with add-on’s to the water treatment plant and was originally $7,309,711. The city began the process by passing a resolution allowing Raymond...

A&P commissioners adjust budgetMembers of the The Russellville Advertising & Promotion Commission voted during its recent regular meeting to amend the 2017 budget from $345,300 to $350,000. Hotel tax revenues for September totaled $26,263, short of the $33,000 anticipated in the 2016 budget. It is only the third month this year that tax receipts didn't surpass anticipated totals. The 2016 budget anticipated revenues at $330,000, and were actually $270,962 through September....

Pottsville slated for new awningsPOTTSVILLE — Mayor Jerry Williams said Julia Owing was on the agenda to speak at the city council meeting on Monday to discuss awnings planned for the Rev. Thomas G. Morris Street City Parks and Athletic Complex ball field but was not present. Williams said Owing’s concern was with the amount of time it has taken the city to purchase awnings and get them installed as planned with a grant the city received. The city received two grants of turnb...

Council approves smaller tax increaseDue to an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution, the Russellville City Council could not raise the firefighter pension fund millage from .4 to .8 mills, as it voted to do Oct. 20. So aldermen called a special meeting Thursday and approved a 10 percent increase to the millage, which would keep the police pension fund the same at .4 mills and raise the firefighter pension fund to .44 mills. That repealed the Oct. 20 resolution that increased th...

Airport fuel sales continue to climbMembers of the Russellville Regional Airport Commission learned during its meeting Tuesday night that combined aviation gas and jet fuel sales this year are 37 percent higher than the same period in 2015. Airport Director Keith Frazier said fuel sales totaled 72,995 gallons from January through the end of September, compared to 53,284 for the same period in 2015. Fuel sales through August of this year totaled 59,712, compared to 46,471 gallons...

Convention center cost estimated at $17.5 millionThe Russellville Planning Commission approved two items related to The Landing convention center and hotel project during its regular meeting Monday at City Hall. The Landing of Russellville preliminary plat and the proposed Hilton Garden Inn and convention center large-scale development were both approved. Allen Williams of AW Engineering, on behalf of David Hunt, told commissioners final design plans were 90 percent complete for the estimate...

Emotions run high at meetingTwo dozen home and property owners made their voices heard during the Russellville Planning Commission meeting Monday inside City Hall. But despite their objections, commissioners voted 8-0 to approve a request to rezone property currently R-1 (single-family residential) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) for The Arbors, a proposed upscale assisted living and independent living facility on Marina Road. Commission Chairman Dennis Boyd recused hi...

Council raises property taxesThe Russellville City Council approved a resolution levying millage taxes on all property in the city during its regular meeting Thursday. The millage for the police retirement remained the same at .4 mills. The millage for the fire retirement was increased from .4 to .8 mills. Finance Director Jerry McKaughan told the council the property tax increase would come to about $1 on a house that was valued at $200,000. Mayor Randy Horton said Frida...

Arbors facility public hearing will be MondayA public hearing for The Arbors assisted living facility is on the agenda for Monday's Russellville Planning Commission meeting, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The Board of Adjustment meets at 5 in City Hall. Members of the Russellville Planning Commission said during their August meeting that more assisted living facilities are needed in the community. Representatives of The Arbors at Russellville Assisted Living Facility gave a presentation...

Council to review Alliance contractThe Russellville City Council discussed renewing a contract with the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) and decided to wait another month before taking any action. New Alliance Director Paul Harvell told the council why there are economic development alliances and where they came from. He explained they started with Gov. Mike Huckabee, who pushed real hard to put alliances in separate areas of the state. He had people in...

3 states say they denied Russia request to monitor electionOKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma and at least two other states said Friday that they have denied efforts by Russian officials to be present at polling stations during the election, requests the U.S. State Department's spokesman dismissed as "nothing more than a PR stunt." The Oklahoma secretary of state's office said it received a letter in August from Russia's consulate general in Houston seeking to have one of its officers present at a voting precin...

Commission recommends roadway workMembers of the Oakland Cemetery Commission recommended to accept a bid from Bowden Specialties for $10,400 to build a roadway to the memorial garden addition during the regular meeting Tuesday. Public Works Director Kurt Jones showed designs of the project that will include a roadway, sidewalks and landscaping of the memorial garden around the columbarium. The other bid to build the road, more than 100 feet, was submitted by Blackstone Constru...

Candidate Q&A: Russell HullEditor’s note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Yell County Justice of the Peace. The candidates were asked the same questions and their answers are listed below. Why are you seeking this position? I'm seeking the Yell county justice of the peace District 10 position because I’m simply tired of my local government spending more money than we have and taxing people out of their jobs and their homes. We need a smarter local go...

Candidate Q&A: Mark ThoneEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Yell County Judge. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? I am seeking my fourth term as County Judge. My goals for Yell County have not changed since my first term in office, which is to make Yell County a better and safer place for the citizens to live and raise their families. We have moved forward in reaching that goal in many ways....

Council set to consider several itemsThe Russellville City Council will discuss items ranging from an ordinance to amend the zoning code regarding planned unit developments (PUDs) to a new economic development/grant writer position during its October meeting at 6 p.m. today. The Finance Committee will meet first at 5. Committee appointments include Polly Hardin to the Historic District Commission and Cindy Hlass to the Cemetery Commission. There is also an ordinance in new busine...

Candidate Q&A: Paul StortsEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Yell County Judge. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? County Judge is the CEO of county government. I will bring integrity and common sense actions to our county government. What will you bring to the position that your opponent will not? A positive plan in all areas of county government that moves past the good ole boy system and b...

Clinton, Trump set for last debate as ugly race nears finishWASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's ugly and acrimonious battle for the White House is barreling toward the end, with the candidates taking the debate stage Wednesday night for one final primetime showdown. For Trump, the debate is perhaps his last opportunity to turn around a race that appears to be slipping away from him. His predatory comments about women and a flood of sexual assault accusations have deepened his unpopular...

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JULIE PACE, The Associated Press White House CorrespondentAssociated Press

Candidate Q&A: Pat McAlisterEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Dover Alderman Ward 1 Position 2. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? I've been on the Dover City Council for many years. I've thought about not running this term but I want to see our city finish the work we have done for a Sewer Treatment Plant. We are close, so I'd like one more term. If elected, what will be your top three priori...

Candidate Q&A: Russell WarhurstEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Dover Alderman Ward 1 Position 2. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? As a life long resident of Dover, I want a chance to give back to my community in the form of service. I would love an opportunity to have input about the progress of Dover. If elected, what will be your top three priorities? My priorities would be researching and ...